[twmb]

Actually most of the EU democracy processes are easy to understand. I'd like to see a European comment on the efficacy of their process. Most follow a proportional system, some follow a mix of proportional and single member single district (winner take all), and Great Britain is winner take all.

They also have much more party discipline. Somebody voting for a party knows the type of policies that party will enforce, and if people are not crazy for the policies being passed, the vote in a different party in the next election.

Also, I would argue that lobbying is more prevalent in the US. Low party discipline + the much greater "need" for money = more money influence.

[cabalamat]

> Most follow a proportional system, some follow a mix of proportional and single member single district (winner take all), and Great Britain is winner take all.

To clarify:

- all seats in the European Parliament are elected by proportional systems, either STV or list systems.

- the parliaments of EU member states are elected by a wide variety of systems, including list systems, STV, winner takes all (FPTP, in Britain), two-round winner takes all (France).

> They also have much more party discipline.

Are you talking about member states' parliaments here, or the EU parliament?

[twmb]

My mistake, has jules pointed out below I was confusing the EU parliament for the European member states.

[jules]

You are confusing the governance on the European (edit: EU -- see below) level with the governments on the national level.

[fulafel]

Europe != EU